Notes From The Awareness:167

Our primary focus indicates what we fear.

Please discuss. How does this play out in life?

I’ll start us out. At any given time, we have one main issue capturing our attentions and driving our thoughts and actions. It may change month to month, week to week, day to day, or even hour to hour. But in a particular moment, we have one overriding concern.

It may call to us in what we feel is a positive way as inspiration, ambition, or curiosity, or in a negative way as obsession, worry, or nervousness. We usually put as much of our energy as possible into this single focus, often more than is good for us.

Sometimes we understand why we’re riveted by the issue: a job loss may impel an urgent search for new employment; a cancer diagnosis may spur a round of appointments and research on treatment options; home kitchen renovation can inspire the hunt for just the right cabinets and counter top. Other times we may feel pushed to act/react in ways we can’t logically explain yet cannot ignore.

Underneath all these impulses is an emotional basis, feelings that drive our thoughts and actions. Usually for humans, the emotion that pushes hardest at us is fear—fear of lack, fear of death, fear of loss, fear of being wrong, fear of not being good enough, fear of appearing foolish. If we’re honest with ourselves about our current major concern, fear likely lurks beneath it.

Today’s message reminds me to be especially aware of my largest issues and the fears that my bolster them. My current focus may have been impelled by fear, but it still may be worthy of my attention and effort.

For example: a job loss would incite a job hunt. The initial concern might beach lack of money, fear of financial needs not being met. A more positive impulse might be the desire to use the opportunity to find more fulfilling employment. The primary focus of job hunt still can be retained, while shifting the underlying emotion to help attract what is desired rather than what is feared.

I can keep my attention on my major concerns in a positive way, in alignment with what I want.

How about you? What relationship do you see between your primary focus and your fears?